Need a mentor!
 

Hey guys! I'm looking for a mentor to help me with anything and everything. I have TONS of questions and in the past with my other pets, I found it easier to just have a mentor. I'm looking for someone who is on a good standing and is well-known. Also, someone who is willing to text/message with me. Thanks!

Well known, why do they have to be well known? I don't know how much reading you've done about finding a mentor, but I don't think this is the way to go about it. If I wanted to find a mentor, I might go to shows and find someone and get to know them. You want someone who is fairly close to you. I would then offer to help them with their dogs and I would watch them groom and train their dogs and do any work I could and listen to everything they said. I would want to be there when they had a litter of puppies, and I would make myself helpful as possible. Whenever they needed, even if it were just cleaning kennels. You're looking at this wrong, you seem to be looking at it how she can help you or make it easier for you, and you should look at it like how you can help her. After a couple of years, your mentor might allow you to partially own a breeding dog with the condition that you show it first.

If what you are really looking for as a whelping coach, that’s another matter, and you’ll probably have to pay someone to do that, just like you have to pay for a vet.

I guess asking for a mentor is way different here than it is for my other pets...? I just wanted to ask simple questions. Some things I probably could find in the threads here, but I don't have hours a day to look through everything. Which is the same reason why I got mentors for my other pets (now I'm able to mentor other people). I guess I don't see why this is such a big deal? Sorry...? If an admin comes along, please delete this.. I can't figure out how to...

You don't have to delete the thread, but a mentor is someone who trains you to become a breeder. There aren't schools you can go to, you have to be an apprentice to someone to learn. If you want to ask questions, you can do that on a thread. Personally, I wouldn’t take the advice of just any breeder here. Some think because they have successfully whelped a litter, they are experts. The good thing about a question on a thread, is if someone’s answer is incorrect or dangerous, someone else will come along and clear it up. You’d be surprised how much this happens. If you literally have hundreds of questions, maybe you could ask for suggestion of books you could read. If you really don't have hours and hours of time to learn all you need to know, I would suggest that you put aside breeding until you do have more time.

I didn't know mentoring meant that I was breeding. I'm definitely not looking to breed yorkies at all. I just meant general questions about training, toys, treats, etc. Like I said, I guess it's not the same as the forum for my other pets that I actually do breed....my mistake.

I'm sorry, that's what the whole forum is about. We have different forums for different aspects. Like in Grooming you can get specific threads on how to do lots of different things, and don't over look the stickies which are the threads at the top of the forum. We have also a training forum with general questions on housebreaking and things like that. We have a food forum and for any general questions you can just ask them in the General forum. I've seen some posters lists 10 questions, and members will anwer some or all of the questions. Seriously, having the answers on the forum, will give you the best answers available.

I still don't understand why you would want someone who's well known?

I'm sorry you don't have time or the want to read through this forum that you came to for advice etc...the kind of mentor your looking for would be someone you probably need to hire...I happen to be looking for a job...just sayin....:)

Ok just kidding...come on stick around ask questions...start threads etc., you will get lots of specific information regarding the questions you ask...you might even make some friends!!!

I understand what you are looking for and what you meant. She was honestly just looking for someone to talk to about the breed and to get quick questions from. I don't think she was wanting to breed. If I knew more about the breed I wouldn't mind answering your questions. We do have a ton of very knowledgable people here who I think would be more than willing to answer any questions you have :)

Yeah, but how many are well known? :confused:

I think she might've meant "well known" as in really knowledgeable...I could be wrong though just my thoughts :P

Lol, in that case I could have answered some of the questions! :p Sorry, I misunderstood the OP's questions, but mentor does mean something entirely different when it comes to dogs. Here's a thread to give you an idea on the word "Mentor." http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...or-needed.html

This isn't a free hire board or a paying one...you come to a forum to participate and learn and be a part of its community. Many of us pay trainers, nutritionists etc. why would you come to a forum and say "who is the best one here to give me free advice?" I mean that's what it sounds like to me...not that its "wrong" but its just not right...its actually a little odd.

Now with that said if someone here wants to do that go for it....

As Nancy said, that's what this whole Forum is about. Take some time & look around in the diff sections & you will see that there are many areas of YT that will cover just about anything you could possibly want to know about Yorkies. If you have a specific question, just go to the area that best fits your question & someone will answer your question/s usually pretty quickly.
Welcome to YT ! :) You will like it here and YT is FULL of very knowledgeable people.:animal-pa

Okay I posted this wrong before and part got cut off and your quote wasn't here

I guess I'm not understanding the OP's request either. I'm sure I'm confused. This isn't a free hire board or a paying one...you come to a forum to participate and learn and be a part of its community. Many of us pay trainers, nutritionists etc. why would you come to a forum and say "who is the best one here to give me free advice?" I mean that's what it sounds like to me...not that its "wrong" but its just not right...its actually a little odd.

Now with that said if someone here wants to do that go for it....

I completely understand your concern and frustrations about that part. I too am confused on that. I just don't think they meant to come off the way that they did. I think they were just looking for a little more direct help.

OP everyone here has different experiences and different training. Please check out the stickies and also you can go to one of our many different sections and post a question. You will get a few people's advice. Sometimes it is better to get more then one persons view. IMO

Perhaps she meant well known on the forum...as in "trusted".

gabby - I might not have all the answers but feel free to Private Message me about anything (including my cell number to text). If I don't know an answer to your question, I can point you in the right direction.

Sometimes, people don't do well on forums..do better one-on-one.

Seems to be much fuss over a simple request if you ask me..

A-freakin-men.

This forum is full of mentors, lol. We all have our own opinions, ideas, and experiences when it comes to our pups. The best advice I've gotten is to take what you can use, and ignore the rest.

agreed 1000%. I believe no harm was meant.

Wow... I'm sorry! All I wanted was someone to talk to that was experienced. Someone who could answer my simple questions, give advice, and direct help.
If I've never felt attacked before, I do now....

I'm outta here...

Don't leave... there are plenty of people that are willing to yorkie chat with you one on one.

Don't leave. I can see where the confusion was on here because when someone on here usually asks for a mentor it is a breeding mentor they want. I'll be happy to answer your questions and if I can't answer it I can direct you to who can

I'm sincere when I ask this, what part of my response made you feel attacked? I'm not trying to get on you for using the word mentor, but that's what the word means here, I even linked a thread so that you would know I'm not pulling your leg. I sincerely thought you wanted a famous well known breeder to mentor you. My later posts told you how you could write a thread and ask your most important questions. I sincerely believe in this forum and I believe that you do get the best answers from a variety of people, not PM’s, but that just my opinion, as you can see, others have different opinions, but that kind of makes my case. Mandies mom offered to communicate with you one to one, all you had to do is PM her and she was willing to give you her cell phone number! As My Dear Sam stated, "The best advice I've gotten is to take what you can use, and ignore the rest." So feel free to ignore me, but it was an honest mistake on my part, when you use certain words, people are going to use the definitions they are familiar with. Honestly, I'm really sorry, I misunderstood you, I hope you can forgive me and give YT another chance.

I don't believe that anyone here was intentionally trying to make you feel attacked. I had no idea until reading this thread that there was even such a thing as a "breeding mentor". A lot of the members here are very very informed on the breed and would love to help you out. Please don't leave over a miscommunication. you are very well wanted here!

This a perfect sad example of exactly how BOTH sides can go away with the wrong impression! The OP has fled, because she felt attacked....after I read her post, I fled, speechless, becuase I felt useless to her...Even though I know very well what "mentor" means and is, I dont consider myself "WELL KNOWN", and I was not sure who I needed to be on a good standing with, and I certainly do not know how to text stuff, and I frankly resented her feeling her time was more harried and important than mine....so I just ducked my head, cried a tear because I have never really felt usless until now, and shuffled away to lick my hurt feelings. OP feels attacked because she used a word in a context none of us are familiar with...."mentor" as information seeker, rather than as someone who teaches, supports, and coaches.....and other YT members were taken aback by a poster who quickly, almost proudly, admits she is too busy to research and seek out the vast wealth of knowledge in different sections on this site, and implies she wants to skip over the search out and seek effort and just have it given to her, or allow her to "pick our brains", which can be rather insulting to us. So, that is it in a nut shell....and now, for all the wrong reasons, another one leaves with feelings of resentment, and in spite of the offers of help from some members, she left anyway.....regardless of the offers of help, regardless of the explanations of why some things were said, regardless of the apologies from people that sincerely were not attacking the poster.....she left anyway. Just goes to show, misunderstandings of intentions or meanings or desires, viewed from BOTH sides, caused by BOTH sides, felt by BOTH sides, are often just unavoidable....and these feelings as experienced by BOTH sides, by everyone, are valid and real. And now, lets see how many members start attacking each other, because they too, have misunderstood a feeling or a meaning or a belief, and the need to criticize and chastise and place blame for the exit.....There is no blame to be placed...just misunderstandings. As adults, we will get over it......

I understand where you are coming from but I guess I understood the OP more since i'm so new to the breed and dogs in general...when a common person things "mentor" they don't think of a breeding mentor. Like mentioned before, I didn't even know what a breeding mentor was until I came here which was why I didn't understand what all of the fuss was about with the OP asking for someone to be her mentor. After hearing both sides and why you and others were offended I DO completely understand now. Miscommunications really suck sometimes :(

I guess I just think that people shouldn't assume things. That maybe someone should've asked me first if I meant breeding or not. I know you guys can see that my post count is no more than 30. Or.. I guess I could've explained that I wasn't breeding (I think I did in one of my posts). Or that my status is just Yorkie Yakker and not one of the higher ones. I'm new...I didn't KNOW.

Again, a lot of new people come here and want a mentor and usually they mean "whelping coach", not a breeding mentor. I've never had anyone say, they just want to ask general questions about a dog, because that's pretty much what every pet owner wants. Again, my apologies for the misunderstanding. I will learn from this, I promise you.

I'm aware thats why I've said everything I've said...Did I say anything to make you feel attacked? Again, I too am new to the breed and about 95% of the information I know about yorkies I got from here. I understand wanting someone to talk to and mentor you through this. I too have a mentor but I met her on etsy. She's a breeder and has helped me through every tough decision i've had to make regarding finding the perfect pup for me :)

On behalf of the more knowledgable members who've posted here, I do apologize. I promise you they didn't mean any harm. They are just very passionate about the breed and I guess felt "not good enough" when you requested someone who was "well known" to mentor you. I do hope you continue with us and we can all move past this.

I guess I just don't need to come to this forum with questions I asked about my other pets when I first got them...